Dementia Care in DeForest, WI: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in DeForest, WI: the local picture

231

residents 85 or older (2.0% of all residents)

1,790

residents 65 or older (16% of DeForest)

24%

of residents 65+ report a disability (24% in Dane County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

DeForest has about 231 residents aged 85 or older among 1,790 aged 65 or older. The risk of Alzheimer’s rises steeply with age, and the Alzheimer’s Association estimates that about a third of people 85 and older have Alzheimer’s dementia.

24% of residents 65 and older report a disability (24% in Dane County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

24% of older DeForest residents in households live alone. For someone with memory loss who lives alone, a few hours of daily check-ins are often the first step.

DeForest compared with Dane County and Wisconsin

Census figure	DeForest	Dane County	Wisconsin
Residents 85 or older	2.0%	1.7%	2.1%
Residents 65 or older	16%	15%	19%
Residents 65+ with a disability	24%	24%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	24%	30%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.0%	6.0%	9.1%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	3.5%	12%	9.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$71,111	$72,639	—

Older residents in towns around DeForest

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Windsor, WI	3.5 mi	1,284	52
Waunakee, WI	5.9 mi	2,292	264
Sun Prairie, WI	6.2 mi	5,317	921
Madison, WI	11 mi	36,240	4,039
Lodi, WI	12 mi	877	26
Middleton, WI	12 mi	3,967	404

Nursing homes near DeForest

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Oakwood Village East Health And Rehab Center	Madison, WI	5.7 mi	3 of 5	40	(608) 230-4000
Avina Of Sun Prairie	Sun Prairie, WI	6.3 mi	5 of 5	50	(608) 837-8529
Waunakee Valley Senior Living	Waunakee, WI	6.6 mi	3 of 5	84	(608) 849-5016
Sun Prairie Senior Living	Sun Prairie, WI	7.2 mi	3 of 5	52	(608) 837-5959
Madison Health And Rehabilitation Center	Madison, WI	9.2 mi	1 of 5	83	(608) 249-7391
Oak Park Nursing And Rehab Center	Madison, WI	10 mi	1 of 5	100	(608) 663-8600

Hospices serving DeForest

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Heartland Hospice Madison	Madison, WI	9.6 mi	(608) 819-0033
Moments Hospice Of Madison	Madison, WI	9.6 mi	(608) 384-3710
Brighton Hospice Madison	Middleton, WI	12 mi	(608) 820-1646
Bristol Hospice Madison	Madison, WI	13 mi	(608) 960-7699

Straight-line miles from the center of DeForest. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a dementia caregiver can help with

Keeping a predictable daily routine
Gentle help with bathing, dressing and toileting
Meals, hydration and medication reminders
Calming approaches for sundowning, agitation and repeated questions

Cost

What dementia care costs in DeForest

At the Wisconsin median aide wage of $17.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,514 a month in wages, which is 26% of the $5,926 monthly median income of DeForest households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Wisconsin's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Hiring directly, you agree the rate with the caregiver and usually become the household employer (U.S. Department of Labor rules). Some families qualify for programs that pay for care at home; see IRIS in Wisconsin: how a family member gets paid as a caregiver.

Before you hire

What to know before hiring a dementia caregiver

An estimated 7.2 million Americans aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association 2025 Facts and Figures. Most live at home, cared for by family. The Association’s 24/7 Helpline (1-800-272-3900) is free.

Questions worth asking: Tell me about someone with dementia you cared for. What worked? What do you do when a client becomes agitated in the late afternoon? How do you keep someone safe who tries to leave the house? More in our dementia care guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Dementia Care in DeForest: common questions

What nursing homes are near DeForest?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Oakwood Village East Health And Rehab Center in Madison (5.7 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Avina Of Sun Prairie in Sun Prairie (6.3 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Waunakee Valley Senior Living in Waunakee (6.6 mi, 3 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in DeForest?

At the Wisconsin median aide wage of $17.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,514 a month in wages, which is 26% of the $5,926 monthly median income of DeForest households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Wisconsin's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

When does someone with dementia need care at home?

Common signs are missed meals or medication, getting lost in familiar places, unsafe cooking or driving, and a family caregiver who is exhausted. Many families start with a few hours a day and add hours, nights or live-in help as the disease progresses.

More near DeForest

More senior care near DeForest

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in DeForest

More for DeForest families

Sources

Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year; CMS provider data (October 25, 2026); U.S. DOL state minimum wages (July 1, 2026); BLS OEWS May 2025 aide wages, which cover employed aides rather than private rates.

In-Home Dementia and Alzheimer's Care in DeForest, WI